Joab and Military Power (2) Wisdom

Joab was a wise man. On several occasions, Joab’s wisdom prevented David from making serious mistakes.

• When David’s relationship with his son Absolam had broken down, Joab tried to make peace between them, but without much success (2 Sam 14). During the process, Absolam burned Joab’s field wheat (2 Sam 14:30).
  
  Absalom wanted to reconcile with his father, but he was forced to remain in exile. He was left in a situation of being forgiven, but not accepted, so he eventually rebelled against David.

• Joab and Abishai went into exile with David, when Absolam seized the throne. They had the wisdom to back David, even though it appeared that he was finished (2 Sam 16:9).

• When Absolam died, David put his grieve ahead of the men who had supported him. Joab warned him that he risked offending the soldiers who had supported him. Joab said to the king,
  

  Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines (2 Sam 19:5).

  David wanted to be the nice guy, but he did not realise that a king has to be ruthless to remain in power. Joab protected David’s kingdom at a time when it was fragile.

• Joab developed a wise strategy for dealing with a joint attack by the Arameans an Ammonites (2 Sam 10:9-10).

• When Satan incited David to take a census of fighting-age men, Joab tried to talk him out of it.
  

  But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?” The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel (1 Chron 21:3-4).

  This was real wisdom, but it was ignored. Joab was loyal, so he carried out David’s instructions even though he did not agree with them.

Unfortunately, Joab’s wisdom was corrupted by the brutal and violent spirit that that got hold of him. This is what happens to those who gain military power. The hatred and fear of war opens the way for bad spirits to enter. They make a home for violence and force.

Wisdom or Word

When I read many of the words on prophetic lists like the Elijah List and Open Heaven, I find it hard to distinguish between human wisdom and true words from God. Many of the words have good applications of the scriptures and others provide good insight into what is happening in the world, but none seem to be very different from what would be heard in many Sunday sermons, if the pastor seeks the Lord about what he should say to his flock. Calling these words prophetic, not only devalues the meaning of the word prophetic, it makes it hard to dig out the genuine word from the Lord.

Most prophetic people have studied the scriptures for most of their lives. They usually have a passion for God’s Kingdom and are keen observers of all that is going on in the world. This puts them in a good place to comment on what is happening in current events or to develop sound applications of the scriptures. Their wisdom is often be really insightful and worth sharing (often more relevant than the editorial writers who dominate the websites of news organisations), but it is not the word of the Lord, so it is misleading to label it prophetic.

A prophet must learn to distinguish between what they receive from the Lord and what comes from their own wisdom. If they are unable to do that, they are on a very slippery slope, which can easily lead to disaster. Prophets should be very clear about the source of their words. If a word comes from the Lord, the prophet can say so. If it a prophetic of their wisdom and experience, they should label it as wisdom. If they are not sure, it is better to be modest than to exalt their wisdom above its place.

When prophets do not distinguish between their human wisdom and a word from the Lord, the word prophetic is depreciated and confusion follows. The true word from the Lord, which his people need to hear, to easily gets lost in the “prophetic slush”.

Coping with Social Collapse (3) - Guidance and Wisdom

Good Guidance
Getting good guidance will be really important in a time of crisis. When Paul was on a Roman ship in the middle of a terrible storm, God showed him a dream what would happen. He encouraged the soldiers and sailors.

Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me (Acts 27:23-25).

The solders and sailors listened to Paul, because he knew what was going on and what to do. They followed his instructions and protected Paul’s life. If Christians have insights into what is going on, they may be able to influence hostile leaders. This might be important for their protection.

During a crisis, Christians should seek guidance from God. Doing God’s will is the best protection in every season. Being at the centre of his will is the safest place. Joseph was able to protect his family, because he knew what to do. God spoke to him in a dream to provide the guidance that he needed.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him" (Matt 2:13)

Wisdom
Wisdom will find the safest options. Moses was born in a hostile nation. His mother hid him in a place where Pharaohs daughter would find him.

So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses (Ex 2:9-10).

Moses was protected in the royal palace, because his mother was wise.